To George Washington from Udny Hay, 10 April 1781
Poughkeepsie, 10th April 1781
Sir,
On my return from Albany I was honored with your Excellency’s letter, relative to the supply of the Indians; I imagine the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, previous to their commencing Business, would wish to have a letter from you on the subject.
In the absence of the Commissary General, I must request your Excellency’s determinations on some Questions, respecting which, I shall, in Person, have the Honor of giving you more particular Information in a few days.
May Salt (of which there is a large Quantity on hand) be exchanged for Fish? should this Exchange be approved of, I must request your Excellency’s Order, on the Quarter Master, for Casks.
If a stock of Flour can be procured, at Albany and Esopus, shall a quantity of Biscuit be baked at each of those Places for the use of the Troops on the Frontiers?
The extreme distress of the Army, in the Northern part of this State, for want of Beef, constrains me to ask your Excellency if there is any Quarter from whence I can, with a probability of success, apply for their relief on that Score?
The Legislature of this State, from a sincere desire that their Officers, employed in purchasing for the Army of the United States, might render them every possible Service, having thought proper, by an Act of the 26th Ulto to make these Officers amenable to military Law; I do myself the Honor to enclose the Act for your Excellency’s perusal. I have the Honor to be with every sentiment of Respect, Your Excellency’s most Obedt & very Humble Servant
Udny Hay
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
26 March 1781
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Agent, and all and every of his Assistants shall, and may be proceeded against, tried, Convicted and punished for Neglect or Malpractice in the Execution of their respective Offices, as Agent, or Assistant Agent under this State, by and at the direction of a General Court Martial, consisting of Officers of the Continental Army, or of the Militia of this State, to be convened by order of the Person administring the Government of this State for the time being, or the Officer commanding in a Department, in like manner as Officers of the Continental Army, may by the Articles of War, established for the regulation of the Army of the United States, be proceeded against, tried, convicted and punished, Provided always, that no sentence of a Court Martial, to be appointed as aforesaid, shall be carried into Execution untill the same is approved by the Person administering the Government of this State for the time Being.